Drilling Granite Pavers

cosanostra

I want to drill 12mm diameter holes through 30mm thick granite paving slabs and down into the block work below, just wondering would an sds hammer drill do the job? I have a hilti hammer drill so that should be no issue just wondering if the sds bit is the right way to go or will the hammer action shatter the slabs?

Citizen Six

Go very slow.

The Continental Op

I've often thought like you SDS might damage what I'm drilling. So far thats never happened so I'd say drill away. However use a decent bit not some cheap one from Lidl and make sure the paving slab is fully supported underneath. I would expect some damage if you were drilling near an unsupported corner of a slab.

Gen.Zhukov

I remember trying to drill a big granite rock to aid splitting it and I got nowhere with std masonry bits - A quick google says diamond core bits all the way

There will be lots of vids on this and here's an old school step by step with a Q & A at the end

https://www.wikihow.com/Drill-Through-Granite#:~:text=Diamond%20core%20drill%20bits%20have,in%20less%20than%20a%20minute.

I have used the diamond bits that fit small a/grinders with an M14 f thread and they're brilliant

https://eshop.wurth.ie/Product-categories/Diamond-dry-core-bit-for-tile-M14/31127501060409.cyid/3112.cgid/en/GB/EUR/

cosanostra

Just to update the thread for future reference, I drilled about 40 holes no bother at all with a standard sds bit! Pilot drilled with a 5mm drill and for the first few went 8 then 12 but for the rest I just piloted them and then went to the 12. Thanks for the advice!